baptize

verb

bap·​tize bap-ˈtīz 

ˈbap-ˌtīz,

 especially Southern  bab-ˈtīz,

 or  ˈbab-ˌtīz

variants or less commonly baptise

baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising

transitive verb

1

religion : to administer baptism (see baptism sense 1) to

baptize a child in the Episcopal Church

was baptized a Catholic as an infant

2

a

: to purify or cleanse spiritually especially by a purging (see purge entry 1 sense 1) experience or ordeal

… baptized with pain and rapture, tears and fire …

—Sidney Lanier

b

: initiate

Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow …

—New York Times

3

: to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen

Theybaptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.

intransitive verb

: to administer baptism

baptizer noun

Synonyms

• call
• christen
• clepe [archaic]
• denominate
• designate
• dub
• entitle
• label
• name
• nominate
• style
• term
• title

Examples of baptize in a Sentence

The priest baptized the baby.

She was baptized at the age of 20.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just months ago, Francis upset more conservative corners of his church by explicitly allowing L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics to receive blessings from priests and by allowing transgender people to be baptized and act as godparents. —Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Lent also represents the 40 days Jesus wandered the desert praying and fasting after he was baptized. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2024

By my third visit to Pittsburgh, in November, 2023, Vincent had graduated, been baptized again, and embarked on his first real American job. —Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Hardt baptized Littlewood three years ago at a San Tan Valley Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. —Logan Stanley, The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024

In all, 20 players stepped forward to be baptized, the Facebook post stated. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023

Prince William and Kate Middleton chose seven godparents for their eldest son, now 10, when he was baptized in 2013. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024

Nearly 180 million of his fellow Brazilians — 84 percent of the population — were baptized Catholic, Vatican statistics show. —Bishop Sand, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024

Religious groups have played an active role in those efforts, but at the same time Pope Francis has taken steps toward inclusivity, saying last year that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents and be witnesses at church weddings. —Liam Stack, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein to dip, baptize, from baptein to dip, dye; akin to Old Norse kvefja to quench

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

baptize

verb

bap·​tize bap-ˈtīz 

ˈbap-ˌtīz

baptized; baptizing

1

: to dip in water or sprinkle water on as a part of the ceremony of receiving into the Christian church

2

a

: to make pure in spirit (as by a painful experience)

b

: initiate entry 1 sense 3

3

: to give a name to (as in the ceremony of baptism) : christen

baptizer noun